Chapter 27

While Gao Zhikai and Zhao Hongxia were arguing, Lu Zheng was in the office of the county party secretary, Qiu Dahan, "listening to the holy teachings."

Qiu Dahan was in his fifties, tall and robust, with a voice like a bell. He was domineering, and his appearance matched his personality. His bald head made him look like a bandit. He encouraged Lu Zheng a lot, telling him to "work hard and build the Guangning public security system into a vanguard for the protection of Guangning's reform and opening up" and so on.

Finally, he smiled and said, "Lu Zheng, have you solved your personal issues yet?" He had changed the way he addressed Lu Zheng from "Xiao Lu" to "Lu Zheng," indicating Lu Zheng's rising status in Guangning's political life.

Seeing Lu Zheng shake his head, Qiu Dahan smiled and said, "Yes, you're still young, no rush!" When it came to Lu Zheng's personal issues, Qiu Dahan actually had a suitable candidate in mind, but after some thought, he didn't mention it. Although this young man seemed to have become more steady recently, he had a reputation for being stubborn, and a direct refusal would be awkward for both of them.

After some small talk, Qiu Dahan took a call, and Lu Zheng got up to leave.

Lu Zheng knew that Qiu Dahan, despite his rough appearance, was actually very shrewd. Otherwise, the position of county magistrate wouldn't have been so difficult to fill, and he wouldn't have been holding it for so long.

At this point, Lu Zheng was still under observation. Qiu Dahan would certainly want to see what kind of person he was and figure him out. In government offices, it was all about understanding people. Once you understood and used people well, things would often be half done.

Leaving Qiu Dahan's office and descending to the second floor, Lu Zheng thought for a moment and then headed toward Liu Baojun's office, knocking lightly on the door.

With a "come in," Lu Zheng pushed the door open and walked in. Liu Baojun was sitting behind his desk, reviewing documents.

"Come, Zhengzi, sit down," Liu Baojun said warmly, as if nothing had happened, and his way of addressing Lu Zheng had become even more intimate.

After some small talk, Liu Baojun looked at his watch and smiled, "It's almost time to go home. Let me treat you to a meal to celebrate?"

Lu Zheng smiled, "I have to go back today; Xiao Hu is waiting for me. Let's do it another day."

Liu Baojun nodded with a smile.

Lu Zheng knew that although Liu Baojun hadn't mentioned it, he was definitely trying to figure out what kind of person he was and how he had suddenly risen to this position.

He had to thank Director Chu for that.

Lu Zheng's thoughts drifted back to half a month ago when Director Chu had casually mentioned the series of child disappearances in his hometown, where his niece was also a victim, and her fate was still unknown.

Lu Zheng knew the ins and outs of this sensational case, which was actually a child trafficking ring. Due to various misunderstandings, the criminals were portrayed as a mysterious gang and a cruel, cannibalistic tribe, and it would take more than two months to solve the case.

So, Lu Zheng subtly provided some ideas, which greatly inspired Director Chu. He called the local police in his hometown, and the case was solved within days. Since then, Director Chu had been extremely impressed by Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng thought that this might be the reason why Director Chu had spoken so highly of him to the provincial department, even more so than the ancient jade Liu Baojun had given him.

The ancient jade, which Director Chu had wanted to return to Liu Baojun before leaving, but Lu Zheng couldn't agree. If it had been Ma Weiguo, it would have been a significant gift from Director Chu, giving him leverage over Ma Weiguo and keeping the other side in the dark. But since it was Liu Baojun, and their relationship was special, it was better to pretend he didn't know about it.

He thought that in a few days, Director Chu would find another way to return the jade to Liu Baojun.

Lost in thought, Lu Zheng descended the stairs. Just as he stepped out of the building, a green jeep stopped beside him.

The door opened, and a short, chubby young man jumped out, smiling obsequiously and bowing, "Director Lu, I'm here to pick you up."

Lu Zheng recognized the green jeep; it was the bureau's assigned vehicle, which had essentially become Director Zhang's personal car.

Although he had been officially appointed as the new director through a phone call from Secretary Yuan, he didn't rush to enjoy the privileges of Director Zhang's car. Instead, he had come to the county party committee compound with Liu Baojun by bicycle.

He wasn't in a hurry, but there were people eager to curry favor with the new big boss. The young, chubby man was Jiao Lei, a driver in the bureau's administrative department.

When Lu Zheng first came to Guangning, the internal structure of the bureau included: the criminal investigation team, the public security division, the political security division, the pre-trial division, the internal security division, the guard division, the secretarial division, the petition division, the administrative detention center, the political work office, and the detention center, among others.

By the beginning of this year, according to the county compilation committee's document [1984]2, the original divisions were reorganized into departments. The secretarial division and the political work office were split into the office and the administrative department, and a new research office was added.

Thus, the office took over the functions of the secretarial division, while the administrative department became the bureau's general manager, providing logistical support, including the kitchen, communications, drivers, and accounting.

Jiao Lei, the young, chubby driver, was in his twenties but had been working in the bureau since he was seventeen, making him a seasoned veteran.

Although he was just a driver, he was still subject to seniority. In the past, he would never have been assigned to drive the big boss. With the change in leadership, Jiao Lei敏锐地意识到，他的机会来了。以前给张局开车的老张，即使想继续给新任的陆局长开车，陆局长也不会用。

所以今天，焦磊就去找老张要了车钥匙，第一时间拿了车，来到县委大院等陆铮。

陆铮没有多犹豫，点点头，便上车坐了副驾驶位。现在基层配车多是吉普，领导位不在后座，坐副驾驶更舒服些。

焦磊颠颠地帮陆铮关上车门，又小跑着上车，打火启动，动作频率很快。他知道机会就这么一次，自然要好好表现。

“局长，我先送您回家，回头再给您把自行车接回去。”焦磊瞥着陆铮的脸色，小心翼翼地说。

陆铮嗯了一声。

绿色吉普穿过大街小巷，很快就来到了县城南郊的城乡结合部。

拐进一条土路后，便是明显的农村景象。平房都是坐北朝南，后墙上刷着白石灰标语和宣传画，宣传画惟妙惟肖：一个满脸自豪的青年农民，脖子上骑着一个小男孩，左右手臂上分别挂着两个稍微大些的女娃；第二幅中，青年农民变成了弯腰驼背的老汉，长大的儿子骑在他的背上，四个女娃沉重地吊在他的无力的双臂上。下面的白灰文字是“计划生育是一个基本国策，多生偷生是可耻的违法行为！”

计划生育工作正在轰轰烈烈地展开，有时去农村抓妇女做结扎，也不得不出动各派出所的警力。

土路两旁的庄户人家，几乎家家门前都有柴禾垛，院墙有用青砖圈起的高宅大院，也有用黍梗扎成的简陋篱笆，鲜明的对比，便是先富和后富的雏形。

焦磊小声地说：“陆局的居住环境艰苦了些，还好，局里的家属楼马上就竣工了。”说完不禁后悔，恨不得抽自己一耳光，多这个嘴干嘛？怎么着这也不是自己该跟领导唠的嗑儿。自己话里的意思，倒好像陆局早就内定了分房名额一般。

陆铮没有吱声，只是点起了一根烟。

焦磊心里更是凉了半截，完了，看来给陆局开车的希望算是泡汤了。

很快，吉普在一个青砖院墙绿铁门的院子前停下，一些孩童和村民都远远地望着。这年头，汽车进村还是很稀罕的，不过这个村落叫赵庄，是城乡结合部，属城关镇，加之广宁经济发展很快，所以村民倒都多多少少见过世面，没有出现一群人围上来看热闹的情形。

焦磊早就同杜小虎打听好了陆局的住处，甚至还送杜小虎回家确认了一趟，所以认门倒是极准。

雨后初晴，村落东方，天边映出七色彩虹，美轮美奂。

院子里，杜小虎把铁炉子搬了出来，正不知道在鼓捣什么，抬头看到进了院子的陆铮，便笑道：“铮子哥，肉串我不知道怎么弄，吃烤肉吧。”

陆铮笑了笑，说：“行，今天奢侈一回。”

焦磊好奇地看了几眼，也不敢多问，又赶忙打火起车，去县委大院取陆局的自行车。

油下了锅，香气四溢，杜小虎又把一片片切好的猪肉片贴在锅里，小心地翻弄。

铁炉旁杜小虎也摆好了桌子，陆铮坐到桌旁马扎上，看着桌上满满的两大盘猪肉片，陆铮就笑：“你不是一向勤俭持家吗？咋了，以后日子不过了？”

杜小虎嘿嘿笑道：“您打跑了一只大老虎，今天得好好庆祝下，再说了，王玉国给了十斤肉票呢，这些肉用不了几个钱。”

王玉国是局办公室主任兼行政科科长，是县局真正的大管家，局里肉票配给，自也在他管辖范围。

陆铮皱了皱眉头，说：“虎子，明天把多出来的肉票送回去，要吃肉，咱花钱买，差这几个钱吗？”杜小虎就像亲弟弟一样，只是性子太直，很多事，都要手把手地教。

杜小虎挠挠头，说：“好，我本来以为，能省就省。”他也没什么想不通的，一向都是陆铮指哪儿打哪儿。

陆铮叹口气道：“虎子啊，以后局里，想跟你做朋友的人可就多了，但这些人，有几个真心的？你以后要多做事，少说话，不要人家来了热脸，你就掏心窝子的和人交朋友。”

杜小虎虽然爽直，却也并不愚笨，点点头说：“知道了，哎呀……”却是油点溅到了手。

陆铮忍俊不禁，摇摇头，看向了桌上的猪肉片。

现在乌山地区的猪肉，执行两种市场价格，一种是凭票供应的价格，一种是加了58%的市场价，这，就是价格双轨制了。

从1979年起，价格双轨制开始出现，国务院于1981年批准对超过基数生产的原油，允许按国际市场价格出口；1983年批准对石油、煤炭超产部分实行加价出售；1984年批准工业生产资料的超产部分可在加价20%以内出售等等，都属于价格双轨制的一部分。

这是从全国范围来说，而乌山地区，作为沿海开放城市，也有自己的政策，市场放开的步伐比起内地要快不少。

以猪肉为例，从完全凭票供应到1979年敞开供应，再到1981年恢复凭票供应制，再到设为沿海开放城市后实行城镇居民计划内凭票供应和计划外市场供应的新体系，可以说，一直在摸索改革之路。

不过价格双轨制的新体系不可避免地给了手握权力的人以权谋私之机，搞到计划内的指标，再以计划外市场定价卖出，由此可赚取其中的差价。

这种倒买倒卖可大可小，往小了说，弄点肉票、油票、工业产品供应票，方便自己，实惠他人，也多少有了那种手握权力的荣耀感，便是名牌自行车厂的老工人，也成了街坊邻里尊重的大人物，因为可以通过他，搞到名牌自行车的供应票。

而往大了说，那倒卖的商品便是工业资料、原油煤炭，其高额的利润便不可以道里计了，这就是后来所谓的“官倒”。

现在，王玉国给杜小虎的肉票，可以算在前一部分，只是一种小小的实惠，但陆铮，却不想沾这个光。

毕竟，现在广宁县城凭票供应的猪肉定价每500克为1.02元，计划外供应指导销售价1.61元，每斤相差不到6角钱，十斤也不过六元钱，对旁人或许是个大数字，对于陆铮来说，又怎么会在乎？